The technology group Wärtsilä in collaboration with PSA Marine successfully completed IntelliTug project’s sea trials. In fact, through their initiative both sides aim to further enable autonomous navigation.

Abu Dhabi Ports along with the vessel engineer Robert Allan Ltd., shake their hands in order to develop the world’s first fully unmanned autonomous commercial marine tugboats. Specifically, the tugs are expected to join SAFEEN, Abu Dhabi Ports’ service arm, once completed.

Following Wärtsilä’s partnership with PSA Marine on developing the project of IntelliTug, both partners achieved a milestone after conducting the first trials at the Port of Singapore under real-world condition. In the following months, Wärtsilä and PSA Marine will keep developing the IntelliTug project, by testing and trialing in Singapore port waters.

Zurich-based technology company ABB announced the signing of a contract with Singaporean shipyard Keppel Offshore & Marine to jointly develop an autonomous tug to operate from 2020. Upon project completion, the vessel is anticipated to be South Asia’s first autonomous tug.

On 22 June, Dutch towage operator Kotug demonstrated what it claims to be the sailing of the first remote-controlled tugboat over a long distance, under a joint industry project. The RT ‘Borkum’ was controlled from the ITS Convention and Exhibition in Marseille, while the RT Borkum was sailing in Rotterdam.